Do’s and Don’t’s of PR

DO: Become proficient at all PR skills, and even, multitasking.

PR requires juggling a whole bunch of skills and being adept at all of them: pitching, managing social media, writing press releases, hosting parties, being a spokesperson. Expertise in the above things and the ability to perform them consecutively or simultaneously would make you a strong PR pro.

DON’T: Stay away from specialization or detail orientation.

Being an expert in one or two specific areas makes you a leader in your workplace. Being meticulous with your details makes for immaculate, credible proposals, press releases, and ideas, and smooth operation of your company on the whole.

DO: Learn to be authentic and build genuine relationships.

Some might argue that building honest and friendly relations with media and clients is the most important part of the job. That means getting to know the media representatives as people. After all, you’re providing them with information to write stories and they’re helping get publicity for your clients.

DON’T: Treat interactions as negotiations.

Again, the closer you are with the journalists, bloggers and business clients you work with, the more opportunities you get for good press and media stories, and the better chance you get of maintaining long term, dependable communication with the media and maximizing the success of your clients.

DO: Think outside the box.

PR is about being as creative and innovative as possible, even when it seems risky. Proposing ideas that seem to stretch beyond your usual boundaries is always healthy, even if they may not be plausible, because it’s always original ideas that grow into greatness.

DON’T: Take risks without calculation.

In the PR industry, people don’t tend to rely on quantifications very much. But logic and numbers are necessary for a solid basis, no matter in persuading potential clients in pitches or press releases or as a means to measure consumer rates and activity.

DO: Speak up and be proactive.

If you are new to the firm or the industry, don’t be afraid to speak up. PR is a very vocal field, and being open and confident in sharing your ideas, asking for opportunities and communicating in general is how you get things done. Being prepared and confident in your interactions goes without saying.

DON’T: Be reactive.

Accept that you’ll make mistakes and remain calm at all costs, even when a crisis strikes that ruins the reputation of your client or when you are faced with information you simply didn’t know. Focus on solution seeking and always equip yourself with a collected mindset.